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'Australian driver killed in Goodwood crash'

A British Automobile Racing Club safety marshal injured in a fatal motor racing accident at the Goodwood Festival of Speed has died from his injuries. The driver of the car died at the scene. A second official is in a serious condition in hospital. The accident happened during a hill climbing event at the Goodwood estate in West Sussex on Saturday afternoon. The fatally injured driver was named as father-of-two John Dawson-Damer, the brother of the Earl of Portarlington. The two injured marshals were taken to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester, where one subsequently died on Saturday night.

The hill climb is the headline event of the annual Festival of Speed, which is in its eighth year. Thousands of spectators attended the show, which takes place on roads around Goodwood House. Festival continues A spokesman said: "No other cars were involved. We do not know what caused the accident - that is still being investigated. All events on the hill climb were immediately cancelled but it is believed that the schedule for the rest of the festival tomorrow will not be interrupted." The Earl of Portarlington, speaking from the family home in Melrose, in the Scottish Borders, said on Sunday: "Obviously his family is devastated by what happened. We all are. I was very close to him and will miss him. It was a terrible thing to happen. Collecting and racing Lotus cars was his biggest passion, his first love really."

The Earl of March, the founder of the Festival of Speed, said: "I am extremely upset by the accident to John. I offer my deepest sympathy to his wife and family." Mr Dawson-Damer was born in Britain but moved to Sydney, Australia, where he ran a company called Austral Engineering. The name of the dead marshal has not been released.

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